SKYPATHS THROUGH LATIN AMERICA
Photograph by Capt. A . W. Stevens
TRINIDAD'S FAMOUS "PITCH LAKE," WIIERE, AS EARLY AS 1595, SIR WALTER
RALEIGH CALKED HIS SHIPS
This natural phenomenon, more than Ioo acres in extent, has for many years yielded a
steady income to the colonial government of Trinidad. In appearance the "lake" is a level tract
of asphalt dotted with puddles of muddy water. As pitch is removed, more rises in its place,
in big roundish lumps with fissures between them. One may walk across if he keeps moving.
In spots liquid pitch oozes out. In the lower left is the plant of the company which digs and
exports the asphalt; at the upper left, a part of the village built for pitch-lake laborers (see,
also, text, pages 37, 40, and 41).
owned Leeward group. Flying over its
capital, St. John, with its two-towered
Cathedral of the Church of England, we
circled over the island to see its plantations.
Many ruined mills lifted their old stone
towers where big wind wheels once turned
the rollers to squeeze out cane juice.
From well-kept fields and gardens work
ers waved to us; dogs chased our shadow,
and a nervous cow jumped from her pen
and ran for the brush. Paved roads were
crowded with carts.
Word had gone far down ocean lanes
that a party of Americans was coming,
with many cameras, to make a pictorial
story of this increasingly popular air cruise
over the West Indies; so crowds welcomed
us at the pier. Many people wanted to
help us; others came to see the big plane
or get a free joy ride.
"Our chief claim to fame is our link with
the historic past," said a British official
who took me to see famous old English
Harbour.